... to give a voice to small-scale food producers and rural communities, and to support them in upgrading their production from homemade to artisan, advocating for their social and political recognition, and supporting their access to markets. 100 participants (from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia, Romania, and Serbia) at the fifth edition of Terra Madre Balkans (21-23 May 2018) share the opinion that the integration of the Western Balkan countries into the EU is a major political goal that will ensure stability and development in the region. The conference built on the human dimension by demonstrating the potential ...

... far, resulting in an average 40% decrease of energy consumption. Antić also announced that the Energy Efficiency Fund will be formed and have EUR 10 million at its disposal annually, plus EU funding, according to the statement. Energy efficiency measures have so far been implemented in 39 public buildings in Serbia, soaking RSD 415 million (about EUR 3.5 million) in investment. Read the full article here According to Balkan Green Energy News Serbia’s budget fund for improving energy efficiency in 2019 will be worth RSD 500 million (about EUR 4.22 million), which was the fund’s overall value ...

... 2018 have been revised upward. Kosovo and Albania are expected to grow at 4% this year. At 3.8%, Montenegro’s growth is projected to be 1 percentage point higher, although still lower than last year. Growth in Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to be stable at an estimated 3.2%. Serbia’s economy has rebounded to 3.5% growth after last year’s weather-related slowdown. Macedonia’s growth also rebounded to 2.5%, as investor confidence was restored. Growth was stimulated by higher public investment and consumption. Driven by tax reforms and faster growth, higher tax revenues created fiscal space, which ...

... The conflicts over the break-up of the former Yugoslavia damaged much of the energy infrastructure and compounded the challenge of providing reliable energy supply. The Western Balkans – composed of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo – is a complex region facing significant energy challenges. The conflicts over the break-up of the former Yugoslavia damaged much of the energy infrastructure and compounded the challenge of providing reliable energy supply. Electricity systems in many parts of the region remain fragile and in need of investment.&nbsp ...

... from the greater use of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures by providing a combination of financing instruments, technical assistance and policy support to create a sustainable market for energy efficiency in the Western Balkans. The countries targeted are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia. ___ In June 2012, the Steering Committee of the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) approved a €23.35 million grant to the EBRD to establish the Regional Energy Efficiency Programme for the Western Balkans. The WBIF is a joint initiative of the European Commission together with the partner IFIs ...

This is a result of the S2Biom Fp7 funded project (D 8.3a) under responsibility of the Imperial College London (Calliope Panoutsou et.al.,). Albania Bosnia & Herzegovina FYR of Macedonia Kosovo Montenegro Serbia ___ S2Biom project has been supported by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme and have been running from September, 2013 until November, 2016. The research work in the S2Biom project covered the whole biomass delivery chain - from primary biomass to end-use of non-food products, and from logistics and ...

... succeed or fail. Three training workshops are scheduled between November and December and aim at attracting small and medium‐sized enterprises, early stage project managers in research, social and technological innovation, and young graduates as first time applicants to transnational projects from business sector. The events are organised respectively in Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia, to help participants understand the innovation dynamics and the theory of social innovation. Content includes practical tools to initiate and support social innovation as well as case studies, group activities, and open discussion. Training dates and registration links: Social Innovation Training in Novi Sad, Serbia Venue ...

... be the biggest contribution to regional countries to overcome their underdevelopment. Austrian Chancellor assured that the EU cannot be complete without the Western Balkans and said that the integration can become functional only through cooperation in politics and economy. Kurz praised the European perspective of Montenegro as well as Serbia, estimating that it looks “better than ever”. A number of panel discussions took place at the conference. The participants of the panel “Economic and European perspective for the Balkans” were Prime Ministers of the Western Balkans countries: Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia. They expressed great interest in enhancing European and ...

... between existing Research Infrastructures and researchers from the WB6. The current status of the mapping RIs in the region was presented by the representatives of the individual WB6 economies. Montenegro has embarked on a revision of the national Research Infrastructure Roadmap in light of strategic developments at the national level; Serbia is in the final stage of the process of preparation of their first RI Roadmap to be completed this year; The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has formed a national working groups to start the development of national RI Roadmap; while Albania, Kosovo* and Bosnia and Herzegovina have ...

Western Balkan Countries Information Platform on Research Technology and Innovation is funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research. It builds upon the platform WBC-INCO.NET.

Kosovo* (This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and
is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo declaration
of independence.)